CVE-2020-9000 in iCS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/01/2021
An issue was discovered in iPortalis iCS 7.1.13.0. Attackers can send a sequence of requests to rapidly cause .NET Input Validation errors. This increases the size of the log file on the remote server until memory is exhausted, therefore consuming the maximum amount of resources (triggering a denial of service condition).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-9000 affects iPortalis iCS version 7.1.13.0, representing a significant denial of service weakness that can be exploited through crafted input sequences. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the .NET framework implementation of the iPortalis system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to systematically overwhelm server resources through carefully constructed request patterns. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the application's failure to properly sanitize or limit input data, allowing attackers to trigger cascading validation errors that accumulate within the system's logging infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper input sanitization and resource limiting controls within the .NET application layer, specifically within the iPortalis iCS framework. When attackers submit sequences of malformed or excessively large input requests, the system's validation routines generate error messages that are subsequently logged to disk. These validation errors are not properly rate-limited or filtered, causing an exponential growth in log file sizes. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 as "Improper Input Validation" and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-400 as "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," where the system's resource management fails to prevent excessive consumption of disk space and memory resources. The attack pattern follows established methodologies found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1499.004 for "Endpoint Denial of Service" and T1070.002 for "Indicator Removal on Host."
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, creating a cascading failure scenario that can exhaust system resources and potentially render the entire application unavailable. As log files grow without bounds, they consume disk space rapidly, eventually leading to complete system exhaustion where no additional logging can occur and the application becomes unresponsive. Memory consumption increases proportionally as the system attempts to process and store validation errors, creating a resource starvation condition that affects not only the primary application but potentially other system services that depend on available disk space and memory. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for automated attacks and botnets seeking to disrupt services.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation controls, establishing rate limiting mechanisms, and configuring proper log rotation policies to prevent unbounded growth of log files. System administrators should implement input length restrictions and character set validation to prevent the submission of excessively large or malformed data sequences. Network-level controls including firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can be configured to detect and block suspicious request patterns. Additionally, implementing proper log management practices with automatic rotation and size limits will prevent the accumulation of validation errors that lead to resource exhaustion. The solution aligns with industry best practices for secure coding standards and follows recommendations from NIST SP 800-160 and ISO 27001 frameworks for managing application security risks and preventing resource exhaustion attacks. Regular monitoring of system resources and log file sizes should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure early intervention before complete service disruption occurs.